The Cavanaughs

The Cavanaughs

1986
The Cavanaughs
The Cavanaughs

The Cavanaughs

7.7 | en | Comedy

The Cavanaughs is an American television situation comedy, broadcast on CBS from 1986 to 1989. The series revolved around Francis "Pop" Cavanaugh, a 71-year-old, blue-collar Irish Catholic man living in South Boston with his daughter Kit and son Chuck, as well as Chuck's sons and daughter. Much of the show's humor stemmed from conflicts between the cantankerous, opinionated Pop and his grown children.

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Seasons & Episodes

2
1
EP14  The Arrangement
Jan. 01,0001
The Arrangement

We don't have an overview of this episode, please check back later.

EP13  Just Weaseled
Jul. 27,1989
Just Weaseled

James tells the family that he is getting married. But is he?

EP12  The Cavanaugh Curse
Jul. 20,1989
The Cavanaugh Curse

It's Pop's 72nd birthday.

EP11  The Last Temptation of Chuck
Jul. 06,1989
The Last Temptation of Chuck

Deciding Chuck has had enough time to grieve over Nora's death, Pop gallantly sets him up on a blind date. Since Chuck doesn't have the backbone to do so, Kit tells Pop that he has no right to play matchmaker for his son, especially since Chuck is too shy to be fixed up. Despite Kit's protests and Chuck's desire to remain a one-woman guy, Chuck ends up going through with the affair... albeit with a toupee. Although his date, Bonnie, is better-looking than he is, and a good ten years younger, the two of them have a couple things in common -- her mother fixed her up, and she's no more confident on the dating scene than he is. But he comes home from their dinner date feeling like he did everything wrong, starting with his failing to admit to her that he's balding. When Pop apologizes to Chuck for meddling, claiming that he didn't want to see him end up alone like he is, Chuck nervously sees Bonnie a second time, sans the hairpiece -- after which he learns that she knew all along, and like

EP10  Fair Weather Friend
Jun. 29,1989
Fair Weather Friend

The family think Mary Margaret has been bitten by the acting bug, but she's actually been bitten by the love bug after gaining a crush on a boy who's choreographing her school play.

EP9  Gimme Shelter
Oct. 03,1988
Gimme Shelter

Father Chuck, Jr. is in a bit of a bind when the homeless shelter where he was helping out is forced to closed down suddenly. He's managed to find a new home for everyone, save for one person, and asks Pop if they could stay with him temporarily. Pop reluctantly says yes, only to learn that there's two people: a Hispanic woman, Rosa, and her infant son, Bob. But when Rosa (who barely speaks any English) overstays her welcome, Pop and Kit begin to suspect that the Father's motives aren't entirely pure, and Rosa is a scam artist. They get one right -- Father Chuck, Jr. goes on to announce that he's resigning from the priesthood, so that he can marry Rosa and be the other kind of father. Although everyone takes the news hard, only Pop is so angry about it that he nearly disowns his grandson. Pop's increasing feelings towards the baby cause him to eventually have a change of heart... at the same time that Junior has his own about the marriage thing.

EP8  Strange Bedfellows
Sep. 26,1988
Strange Bedfellows

A politician rejects Pop's offer to handle his campaign, because he's too busy setting his sights on Kit.

EP7  Smoke Gets in Your Eyes... and Up Your Nose
Sep. 19,1988
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes... and Up Your Nose

When Kit struggles to quit smoking, the rest of the clan agree to give up something of their own to support her.

EP6  Many Happy Returns
Sep. 12,1988
Many Happy Returns

Pop's plan to help Kit fight a tax audit gets him in hot water with the I.R.S.

EP5  Suggestive Dancing
Sep. 05,1988
Suggestive Dancing

We don't have an overview of this episode, please check back later.

EP4  Monk's the Word
Aug. 29,1988
Monk's the Word

The Cavanaughs think a week in a monastery is just the thing that will teach them to get along.

EP3  Careers
Aug. 22,1988
Careers

Chuck can't swallow his pride when Kit outdoes his efforts at the construction company.

EP2  Coastal Disturbance
Aug. 15,1988
Coastal Disturbance

When Kit's ex comes to town, Kit realizes she still has feelings for him.

EP1  Weasel Waltz
Aug. 08,1988
Weasel Waltz

James returns, and he and Pop dig up the past concerning their childhood rivalry over the affections of a girl.

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7.7 | en | Comedy | More Info
Released: 1986-12-01 | Released Producted By: Paramount Television Studios , Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

The Cavanaughs is an American television situation comedy, broadcast on CBS from 1986 to 1989. The series revolved around Francis "Pop" Cavanaugh, a 71-year-old, blue-collar Irish Catholic man living in South Boston with his daughter Kit and son Chuck, as well as Chuck's sons and daughter. Much of the show's humor stemmed from conflicts between the cantankerous, opinionated Pop and his grown children.

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Cast

Danny Cooksey , Peter Michael Goetz , Barnard Hughes

Director

Producted By

Paramount Television Studios ,

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Reviews

Syl I remember the Cavanaughs particularly Barnard Hughes and Christine Ebersole playing father and daughter. I apologize but my memory could be wrong. Anyway, they did a very good job on the show. The sitcom could have been a hit but CBS had too many other sitcoms on the air at the time. Unfortunately, I don't remember it being about stereotypes about being Irish Catholic. I'm Polish Catholic so I related to the family relationships. I was a kid when this show aired on television. It was one of the few shows that ever gave us Catholic characters at that time. Maybe they wanted Barnard Hughes to be the Catholic Archie Bunker, the show didn't last long because there were too many shows and not enough airtime. It may have succeeded in syndication if given that opportunity. It was just another good show that never really evolved on it's own.
S.R. Dipaling I watched about four episodes of this CBS series from the mid-eighties. I'll say that the talent they assembled,in particular veteran film and TV star Barnard Hughes,TV vets Peter Michael Goetz and Christine Ebersole(who's now thriving on Broadway when I last heard)seem to give the characters some amount of personality,but the show was so drenched in one-dimensional Irish-Catholic stereotypes that it seemed to be almost a cruel parody of itself.The stereotypes go as the following: grouchy,old-sod,Irish to the teeth patriarch Francis Cavanaugh(Hughes),who seems to find anything that ISN'T Irish and CAtholic to be inferior,is the anchor of this clannish family in Boston. His son,Chuck Sr.(Goetz) is a put-upon union chief who has no ostensible spine. His daughter Kathleen(nicknamed Kit),is the black sheep in the family,running away from home,becoming an actress,having unmarried sex,dating anybody who wasn't Irish and CAtholic,etc. Chuck's oldest son is Chuck Jr.,who is a priest who seems to have been led to believe that the priesthood was the only place to go when he grew up and wants desperately to be thought of as "with it". He has a younger sister who is the closest thing to a real person,a shy CAtholic-school girl who idolizes Madonna and is in living fear of the nuns at school. This show is replete with prerequisite stereotypes about Catholics,the Irish in particular. They're either stodgy and obstinate or else hellions in training. No middle ground. The characters have little else to them. Having been raised Catholic myself(albeit Midwestern,German Catholic), I found it somewhat insulting and stupefying. Was I supposed to relate to these characters? And if I did,would this make them any funnier? My answers on those were:I don't think so and no f**king way!It managed to hang around a lot longer than I thought it should've. Fortunately,it seems all involved have moved on in their careers. Good for them!
budikavlan Sitcom about a bumptious Irish family, stirred up by the return home of the flamboyant daughter. She moves back in with her crusty father, conservative older brother, and his children. His son is a priest and his daughter is a shy Catholic High School student. The show was consistently funny and the performances, led by Barnard Hughes as the patriarch and Christine Ebersole as Kit were dead on. Ebersole's flashy, sarcastic persona is perfect for a sitcom; it's a shame this didn't last longer.